Poetry Out Loud

About Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a national contest in which high school students memorize and recite poetry for an audience. Poetry Out Loud begins at the classroom/school or at the local level with an area organization. Winners may then advance to the statewide competition. The winners from each US state and territory then compete at the National Finals.

This year, in conjunction with America250, a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Poetry Out Loud features poems celebrating the rich tapestry of American history and culture. An updated online anthology of poems is available and replaces any earlier online or printed anthologies. For more information on the 2025-2026 program and this year’s anthology, refer to the FAQ page on the national Poetry Out Loud website. 

Champions from each school-wide or organization contest are invited to compete at the West Virginia State Finals, usually held in the Norman L. Fagan State Theater at the Culture Center in Charleston. In addition to contestants from all over the state performing poetry, the event also features guest speakers and celebrated performers. Recent guests include storyteller and Vandalia Award winner Bil Lepp, poets Randi Ward and Doug Van Gundy, musicians Aristotle Jones and Mary Linscheid, West Virginia’s poet laureate Marc Harshman, and many others.

Poetry Out Loud is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies and managed
by Mid Atlantic Arts.

For advice on coordinating an event and questions about classroom, school, and state contests, contact:
James D. Wolfe, Poetry Out Loud Coordinator
West Virginia Department of Tourism, State Capitol Complex
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, WV 25305
James.D.Wolfe@wv.gov
(304) 558-0240

School & Organization Contests

*Teachers use resources from the national website to incorporate standards-based curriculum and hold classroom contests. Winners from classroom contests go on to compete at the school level.

*Schools must hold a contest to select a champion.

*Contests must include at least two students, evaluated by Poetry Out Loud evaluation criteria

*Students recite one poem per round.

*Students must prepare at least 2 poems to recite at the school or organization contest level.

*Scores from all rounds added to determine winner.

Registration and Release Forms

*School/Organization Registration Form

*Champion Registration Form

*Runner-Up Registration Form (in case champion is unable to participate in state finals)

*Teacher Registration Form

*Individual Student Registration – If you are a student who did not have access to compete in a school or organization competition, email james.d.wolfe@wv.gov no later than December 12, 2025.

*Parent Release Form

Rules and Guidelines

*High school students in grades 9-12 (or 8th grade students in a participating 9-12 class)

*No student may be excluded from participating in Poetry Out Loud on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. Schools may determine eligibility for classroom and school level Poetry Out Loud programming pursuant to local and state law. For more information (particularly regarding prize eligibility), visit this page.

*Community organizations may choose to sponsor a POL competition for students who are unable to participate in a school-based competition.

*Schools or organizations must register at this link by December 12, 2025. 

*Poems must be selected from the Poetry Out Loud America 250 Online Anthology.

*Students competing in the State Finals select any 3 poems from the anthology. (The previous requirement to choose a pre-20th century poem or a poem 25 lines or fewer has been eliminated.)

*For more details on eligibility rules and other guidance on the competition, visit the national Poetry Out Loud website.